Tiger found dead in a parking lot on lunar New Year, mysteriously

(Photo/bddsb.bandao.cn)

(ECNS) -- A tiger was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a Pingdu parking lot, East China's Shandong province on the Lunar New Year morning of February 19.

A couple, driving home after a dumpling dinner with their family to welcome Spring Festival, saw the body along the way, Peninsula City News reported.

They reported the finding to police who initially thought it a prank. Officials later transferred the case to a government department in charge of forestry affairs.

A spokesperson said the tiger seemed to be young and that a task force would be established following the holiday period to investigate the case.

It is speculated that the tiger was frightened by Spring Festival firecrackers and escaped from a cage.